DND slams China’s aggressive activities in West PH Sea

MANILA, Philippines – China’s aggressive activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) were “blatant disregard of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC),” the Department of National Defense said on Thursday.

“We will continue to air our disappointment over this indisputable proof of blatant disregard of what was agreed with China,” Defense spokesperson Peter Paul Galvez told reporters on  Thursday at Camp Aguinaldo.

It was agreed in the DOC that “self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, cays and other features and to handle their difference in a constructive manner.”

“Ang linaw-linaw dun, they are also signatories there, walang babaguhin from that period (2000). We have kept our part in that,” Galvez said.

A photo last month showed that in Cuarteron Reef, there is a structure as big as SM Mall of Asia being built, while in Gaven Reef, a structure as big as SM North is also in the works, Galvez said.

“We’re worried about that. From the start, this has caused serious concern. But we are holding on to our diplomatic protest in the arbitration to address these issues,” he also said.